Sarga 20

तस्मिंस्तु पुरुषव्याघ्रे निष्क्रामति कृताञ्जलौ। आर्तशब्दो महान् जज्ञे स्त्रीणामन्तःपुरे तदा।।2.20.1।...

When the tiger among men (Rama) was coming out with folded palms, there arose a huge cry of distress...

कृत्येष्वचोदितः पित्रा सर्वस्यान्तःपुरस्य च। गतिर्यश्शरणं चापि स रामोऽद्य प्रवत्स्यति।।2.20.2।।

Rama was the refuge and protector of all the inmates lot of the inner apartment although it was not ...

कौशल्यायां यथा युक्तो जनन्यां वर्तते सदा। तथैव वर्ततेऽस्मासु जन्मप्रभृति राघवः।।2.20.3।।

Rama conducted himself towards us in the same way as he did towards his mother Kausalya right from t...

न क्रुध्यत्यभिशप्तोऽपि क्रोधनीयानि वर्जयन्। क्रुद्धान्प्रसादयन्सर्वान् स इतोऽद्य प्रवत्स्यति।।2.20.4...

Rama who used to avoid deeds that caused anger, pacified those who were angry with him, and never lo...

अबुद्धिर्बत नो राजा जीवलोकं चरत्ययम्। यो गतिं सर्वभूतानां परित्यजति राघवम्।।.2.20.5।।

Alas our king who has lost his brain, who has ordered the banishment of Rama, the refuge of all livi...

इति सर्वा महिष्यस्ता विवत्सा इव धेनवः। पतिमाचुक्रुशुश्चैव सस्वरं चापि चुक्रुशुः।।2.20.6।।

Thus all the queens like calfless cows cried loudly blaming their husband.

स हि चान्तःपुरे घोरमार्तशब्दं महीपतिः। पुत्रशोकाभिसन्तप्तः श्रुत्वा व्यालीयताऽसने।।2.20.7।।

Tormented with grief on account of his son, the king sank in his seat on hearing the cries of distre...

रामस्तु भृशमायस्तो निश्श्वसन्निव कुञ्जरः। जगाम सहितो भ्रात्रा मातुरन्तःपुरं वशी।।2.20.8।।

Deeply pained yet selfpossessed Rama, heaving sighs like an elephant went towards the inner apartmen...

सोऽपश्यत्पुरुषं तत्र वृद्धं परमपूजितम्। उपविष्टं गृहद्वारि तिष्ठतश्चापरान्बहून्।।2.20.9।।

Rama beheld a highly venerable elderly man seated at the entrance of the residence and many others s...

दृष्ट्वैव तु तदा रामं ते सर्वे सहसोत्थिताः। जयेन जयतां श्रेष्ठं वर्धयन्ति स्म राघवम्।।2.20.10।।

On seeing Rama, all the eminent among the victors got up immediately and greeted him, saying, 'Victo...

प्रविश्य प्रथमां कक्ष्यां द्वितीयायां ददर्श सः। ब्राह्मणान्वेदसम्पन्नान्वृद्धान्राज्ञाऽभिसत्कृतान्।।...

With the first courtyard crossed, Rama saw in the second aged brahmins versed in the Vedas, and duly...

प्रणम्य रामस्तान्विप्रांस्तृतीयायां ददर्श सः। स्त्रियो वृद्धास्तथा बाला द्वाररक्षणतत्पराः।।2.20.12।।

Rama wished the brahmins and saw old men, women and children vigilantly guarding the door in the thi...

वर्धयित्वा प्रहृष्टास्ताः प्रविश्य च गृहं स्त्रियः। न्यवेदयन्त त्वरिता राममातुः प्रियं तदा।।2.20.13।...

Wellpleased, the women then greeted him wishing prosperity. They hurried into the abode of Kausalya ...

कौशल्यापि तदा देवी रात्रिं स्थित्वा समाहिता। प्रभाते त्वकरोत्पूजां विष्णोः पुत्रहितैषिणी।।2.20.14।।

Having spent the night with a composed mind (abosorbed in meditation), Kausalya was worshipping lord...

सा क्षौमवसना हृष्टा नित्यं व्रतपरायणा। अग्निं जुहोति स्म तदा मन्त्रवत्कृतमङ्गला।।2.20.15।।

Always engaged in the observance of vows, Kausalya (then) clad in silk cloth was performing rituals ...

प्रविश्य च तदा रामो मातुरन्त:पुरं शुभम्। ददर्श मातरं तत्र हावयन्तीं हुताशनम्।।2.20.16।।

Rama entered the auspicious inner apartment of his mother and saw her exhorting the priests to offer...

देवकार्यनिमित्तं च तत्रापश्यत्समुद्यतम्। दध्यक्षतं घृतं चैव मोदकान्हविषस्तथा।।2.20.17।। लाजान्माल्या...

There Rama saw curd, grains of rice, clarified butter, sweetmeats, oblations, parched grain, white ...

देवकार्यनिमित्तं च तत्रापश्यत्समुद्यतम्। दध्यक्षतं घृतं चैव मोदकान्हविषस्तथा।।2.20.17।। लाजान्माल्या...

There Rama saw curd, grains of rice, clarified butter, sweetmeats, oblations, parched grain, white ...

तां शुक्लक्षौमसंवीतां व्रतयोगेन कर्शिताम्। तर्पयन्तीं ददर्शाद्भिर्देवतां देववर्णिनीम्।।2.20.19।।

Kausalya, emaciated due to observance of vows and clad in white silk looked like a celestial being. ...

सा चिरस्यात्मजं दृष्ट्वा मातृनन्दनमागतम्। अभिचक्राम संहृष्टा किशोरं बडबा यथा।।2.20.20।।

Seeing her son who had come after a long time and who is a source of joy to his mother, Kausalya app...

स मातरमभिक्रान्तामुपसंगृह्य राघवः। परिष्वक्तश्च बाहुभ्यामुपाघ्रातश्च मूर्धनि।।2.20.21।।

The scion of the Raghus saw his mother coming and bowed her. She held him in both her arms and kisse...

तमुवाच दुराधर्षं राघवं सुतमात्मनः। कौशल्या पुत्रवात्सल्यादिदं प्रियहितं वचः।।2.20.22।।

Out of love for her son, the invincible scion of the Raghu dynasty, Kausalya spoke with gentle and p...

वृद्धानां धर्मशीलानां राजर्षीणां महात्मनाम्। प्राप्नुह्यायुश्च कीर्तिं च धर्मं चोपहितं कुले।।2.20.23...

May you attain long life and fame like those of the aged, virtuous and great rajarsis who upheld th...

सत्यप्रतिज्ञं पितरं राजानं पश्य राघव। अद्यैव हि त्वां धर्मात्मा यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति।।2.20.24।।

O scion of the Raghu race see the king, your righteous and truthful father, who will consecrate you ...

दत्तमासनमालभ्य भोजनेन निमन्त्रितः। मातरं राघवः किञ्चिद्व्रीडात्प्रसार्याञ्जलिमब्रवीत्।।2.20.25।।

Invited (by Kausalya) to partake the food, Rama out of abashment only touched the seat provided to h...

स स्वभावविनीतश्च गौरवाच्च तदा नतः। प्रस्थितो दण्डकारण्यमाप्रष्टुमुपचक्रमे।।2.20.26।।

Modest by nature, Rama with respectful humility began seeking her permission for his departure to Da...

देवि नूनं न जानीषे महद्भयमुपस्थितम्। इदं तव च दुःखाय वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणस्य च।।2.20.27।।

O mother surely you do not know that a great misfortune has befallen, causing distress to you, Sita ...

गमिष्ये दण्डकारण्यं किमनेनासनेन मे। विष्टरासनयोग्यो हि कालोऽयं मामुपस्थितः।।2.20.28।।

I am setting forth to Dandaka forest. What is this seat for? A time has come for me when I am fit f...

चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि वत्स्यामि विजने वने। मधुमूलफलैर्जीवन्हित्वा मुनिवदामिषम्।।2.20.29।।

Abstaining from eating meat like hermits and living on honey, fruits and roots, I am to live in the ...

भरताय महाराजो यौवराज्यं प्रयच्छति। मां पुनर्दण्डकारण्ये विवासयति तापसम्।।2.20.30।।

The great king is conferring the status of heirapparent on Bharata while he is banishing me to Danda...

स षट्चाष्टौ च वर्षाणि वत्स्यामि विजने वने। आसेवमानो वन्यानि फलमूलैश्च वर्तयन्।।2.20.31।।

Living on things available in the forest, on fruits and roots, I am to dwell in the uninhabited jung...

सा निकृत्तेव सालस्य यष्टिः परशुना वने। पपात सहसा देवी देवतेव दिवश्च्युता।।2.20.32।।

All on a sidden Kausalya fell down on the ground like the branch of a sal tree in the forest severed...

तामदुःखोचितां दृष्ट्वा पतितां कदलीमिव। रामस्तूत्थापयामास मातरं गतचेतसम्।।2.20.33।।

Seeing his mother who had done nothing to deserve (this) suffering and who had fallen down like a pl...

उपावृत्त्योत्थितां दीनां बडबामिव वाहिताम्। पांसुकुण्ठितसर्वाङ्गीं विममर्श च पाणिना।।2.20.34।।

Rama gently wiped away the dust that had covered her body as Kausalya stood miserable, like a mare w...

सा राघवमुपासीनमसुखार्ता सुखोचिता। उवाच पुरुषव्याघ्रमुपशृण्वति लक्ष्मणे।।2.20.35।।

Kausalya who deserved happiness yet was struck down by (this) distress spoke to Rama, the tiger amon...

यदि पुत्र न जायेथा मम शोकाय राघव। न स्म दुःखमतो भूयः पश्येयमहमप्रजाः।।2.20.36।।

O my son, if you were not born to me, I, even as a woman without progeny, would not have experience...

एक एव हि वन्ध्याया श्शोको भवति मानसः। अप्रजाऽस्मीति सन्तापो न ह्यन्यः पुत्र विद्यते।।2.20.37।।

O my son a barren woman has only one mental agony that she has no progeny. Except that she does not...

न दृष्टपूर्वं कल्याणं सुखं वा पतिपौरुषे। अपि पुत्रे ऽपि पश्येयमिति रामाऽस्थितं मया।।2.20.38।।

I did not have the fortune, O Rama, to enjoy any auspicious moment or pleasure earlier when my husba...

सा बहून्यमनोज्ञानि वाक्यानि हृदयच्छिदाम्। अहं श्रोष्ये सपत्नीनामवराणां वरा सती।।2.20.39।।

I, being the eldest (of the queens) will have to listen to many heartbreaking and unpleasant words f...

अतो दुःखतरं किं नु प्रमदानां भविष्यति। मम शोको विलापश्च यादृशोऽयमनन्तकः।।2.20.40।।

There cannnot be greater distress for any woman than such unending grief and lamentation (which I am...

त्वयि सन्निहितेऽप्येवमहमासं निराकृता। किं पुनः प्रोषिते तात ध्रुवं मरणमेव मे।।2.20.41।।

O child even when you are nearby I am neglected like this. What to say when you are banished. Death ...

अत्यन्तनिगृहीतास्मि भर्तुर्नित्यमतन्त्रिता। परिवारेण कैकेय्या स्समा वाप्यथवाऽवरा।।2.20.42।।

Treating me as an equal or inferior to the attendants of Kaikeyi and making me always dependent, my ...

योऽहि मां सेवते कश्चिदथवाप्यनुवर्तते। कैकेय्याः पुत्रमन्वीक्ष्य स्वश्चि जनो नाभिभाषते।।2.20.43।।

Any one who serves me or follows me will not talk to me after seeing Bharata (installed as heirappar...

नित्यक्रोधतया तस्याः कथं नु खरवादितत्। कैकेय्या वदनं द्रष्टुं पुत्र शक्ष्यामि दुर्गता।।2.20.44।।

Fallen into an unfortunate state how can I look at Kaikeyi's face who is always harsh and in temper?

दश सप्त च वर्षाणि जातस्य तव राघव अतितानि प्रकाङ्क्षन्त्या मया दुःखपरिक्षयम्।।2.20.45।।

O Rama, I have spent the last seventeen years after your birth with the expectaion that my sorrows w...

तदक्षयं महद्दुःखं नोत्सहे सहितुं चिरम्। विप्रकारं सपत्नीनामेवं जीर्णाऽपि राघव।।2.20.46।।

Therefore, O Rama, I cannot at this old age endure this great, endless sorrow and the insults from c...

अपश्यन्ती तव मुखं परिपूर्णशशिप्रभम्। कृपणा वर्तयिष्यामि कथं कृपणजीविकाम्।।2.20.47।।

Without beholding your face that is as bright as the full Moon, how can this wretched woman live thi...

उपवासैश्च योगैश्च बहुभिश्च परिश्रमैः। दुःखं संवर्धितो मोघं त्वं हि दुर्गतया मया।।2.20.48।।

Through meditation, through fasts and with a great deal of efforts you have been brought up by this ...

स्थिरं तु हृदयं मन्ये ममेदं यन्न दीर्यते। प्रावृषीव महानद्या स्पृष्टं कूलं नवाम्भसा।।2.20.49।।

I think my heart must be very firm (hard) like the bark of a great river which, touched by (a flood ...

ममैव नूनं मरणं न विद्यते न चावकाऽशोस्ति यमक्षयेऽमम। यदन्तकोऽद्यैव न मां जिहीर्षति। प्रसह्य सिंहो रुद...

There is no room for me in the abode of Yama (the god of death). If he does not carry me off forcibl...

स्थिरं हि नूनं हृदयं ममायसं न भिद्यते यद्भुवि नावदीर्यते। अनेन दुःखेन च देहमर्पितं ध्रुवं ह्यकाले मर...

Surely my still (hard) heart is made of iron. It neither bursts nor breaks down on the ground. Perva...

इदं हि दुःखं यदनर्थकानि मे व्रतानि दानानि च संयमाश्च हि। तपश्च तप्तं यदपत्यकारणा त्सुनिष्फलं बीजमिवो...

My regret is that all my mortifications, gifts of charity and penances are of no avail. Even the asc...

यदि ह्यकाले मरणं स्वयेच्छया लभेत कश्चिद्गुरुदुःखकर्शितः। गताहमद्यैव परेतसंसदं विना त्वया धेनुरिवात्म...

If any one, tormented with great sorrow, could willingly commit suicide I would have gone the way to...

अथापि किं जीवितमद्य मे वृथा त्वया विना चन्द्रनिभाननप्रभ। अनुव्रजिष्यामि वनं त्वयैव गौ स्सुदुर्बला वत...

What is the use of this life now? What is life without you whose countenance glows like the full Moo...

भृशमसुखममर्षिता तदा बहु विललाप समीक्ष्य राघवम्। व्यसनमुपनिशम्य सा मह त्सुतमिव बद्धमवेक्ष्य किन्नरी।।...

Kausalya, filled with anger due to extreme sorrow reflected over her misfortune, and burst into harr...